We Can Still Win Ligue 1 – Marseille Head Coach Erik Gerets

Shorn of a Ligue 1 title for a decade and a half, hopes are high that Olympique de Marseille can break their silverware duck this season as they trail league leaders Olympique Lyonnais by just four points.

Confidence was boosted in les Phoceens’ camp last night as they ran out 1-0 winners over Girondins de Bordeaux and head coach Erik Gerets was not going to spoil the party at a bouncing Stade Velodrome by writing off their chances of removing Lyon’s crown.

“We avoided being knocked out of the race,” he declared to the club's official website. “If we had lost, we would have 38 points and be seventh. Now, we are fourth and the pre-season objectives are within reach. We have an opportunity to achieve because the difference [between OM and Lyon] is not great and because we showed good sense. We also felt a good reaction from our fans.

“For Bordeaux, this was not a final but for us it was. We still have 15 finals to play.”

Overall, Gerets enjoyed the game, which he admitted was blighted somewhat by the overzealous officiating of referee Bre, who was quick to his whistle but slow to his cards.

“It was a good football game,” he declared. “It’s a shame because there were a lot of times when there was a whistle and the game could have continued. It was an open game but both teams felt what was at stake. OM had more to fear than Bordeaux and we showed that we did not want to lose. We wanted to win. And there is the victory, there is nothing more to say.”

Les Phoceens are currently in the midst of a four team pack, including Bordeaux, Paris Saint-Germain and Toulouse, all within five points of les Gones. Marseille’s form has not been particularly inspiring of late, however, the have a kind run of fixtures in the coming weeks, starting with a trip to Monaco next Sunday night.